But keep an eye on these
tiny lines; if you notice them spreading and deepening, much like the
crazing that’s common in old porcelain, have them examined by a fiberglass
expert. And if the cracks are deep enough that you can insert a sharpened
blade or even chip away at their edges, have them repaired right away
by a qualified yard to prevent water and dirt from penetrating and doing
serious damage. This usually isn’t a job you should tackle yourself,
since oftentimes there’s an underlying condition that needs expert
attention.

When it comes to hulls,
however, experts strongly advocate having cracks of any size repaired.
Even small cracks can let contaminants seep below the surface, leading
to bigger problems and perhaps even failure of the entire structure if
left untreated. And definitely don’t tackle this job yourself. If
your hull is still under warranty, you run the risk of voiding the policy.
More important, the cause of the cracking may be inside your boat and
therefore not immediately apparent. A professional will not only mend
the cracks but also determine and fix their source.

BLISTERSHull blisters
are exactly what they sound like: raised portions of the outer skin or
gelcoat. They can be quite small–sometimes referred to as pimples–or
quite large. A variety of things cause blisters, with the most common
one being water intrusion. Dirt or other contaminants are also culprits,
and resin bonding failures due to temperature and humidity changes or
even problems during construction can also result in blistering.

Don’t let the size
of a blister fool you into thinking it’s nothing to worry about.
Blisters inflate and deflate in relation to changes in environmental conditions
such as temperature and humidity and may dry out and even disappear after
a boat is hauled and left to sit for a while. While broken blisters are
an obvious cause for alarm, since they permit water to penetrate the laminate
quite easily, even apparently intact blisters can lead to serious problems
like delamination and core deterioration.